Building insulation materials 4: Oil - based polymers

	Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) insulation
	Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) insulation
	Rigid polyurethane (PUR/PIR) insulation
	Phenolic foam insulation

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) insulation

Expanded Polystyrene insulation is made from small beads of polystyrene mixed with a pentane as the blowing agent. Heating expands the beads. EPS boards are produced by putting the beads into moulds and heated further to fuse the beads together. Typical applications of EPS boarding are in walls, roofs and floors. Polystyrene beads are frequently used as cavity fill in masonry walls.

Embodied energy cradle to gate

Various figures: example of 108 MJ/kg (for EPS Average of 2 Swiss factories) ²

More: Thermal properties of insulation.....

Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) insulation

Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) is made by mixing polystyrene with a blowing agent under pressure and the resulting fluid forced through a die. As it emerges from the die it expands into a foam, is shaped, cooled and trimmed to dimension. XPS is slightly stronger than EPS, and although it is used in many of the same applications as EPS, it is particularly suitable for use below ground or where extra loading and/or impacts might be anticipated.

Embodied energy cradle to gate

Various figures: example of 95 MJ/kg (for XPS, calculated by Ecoinvent using data from leading factories in Germany and USA) ³

More: Thermal properties of insulation.....

Rigid polyurethane (PUR/PIR) insulation

Polyurethane (PUR), a closed-cell plastic, is formed by reacting two monomers in the presence of a blowing agent catalyst (polymerisation). Polyisocyanurate foam (PIR) is essentially an improvement on polyurethane where there is a slight difference in the constituents and where the reaction is conducted at higher temperatures. PIR is more fire-resistant and has a slightly higher R value. Applications include wall, floor and roof insulation. Polyurethane is also popular in laminate form in SIPS and as an insulation backing to rigid boarding such as plasterboard.

Embodied energy cradle to gate

More: Thermal properties of insulation.....

101 MJ/kg ¹⁷

Phenolic foam insulation

Phenolic foam insulation is made by combining phenol-formaldehyde resin with a foaming agent. When hardener is added to the mix and rapidly stirred, the exothermic reaction of the resin, together with the action of the foaming agent, causes foaming of the resin. This is followed by rapid setting of the foamed material. Though more usually employed in building services applications, phenolic foam panels are suitable as insulation for roofs, walls and floors. Phenolic foam is also popular in laminate form as an insulation backing to rigid boarding such as plasterboard.

Other types of insulation

	Plant / animal derived insulation
	Mineral insulation

References

2 Ecoinvent, 2007 supplied by Dr Andrew Norton, Renuables
3 Dr Andrew Norton, Renuables
5 'Insulation for Sustainability - A Guide', XCO2 Conisbee, 2003 (an industry-sponsored report)
15 DEFRA & CSF www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/csf/advice/hbcd.htm
16 SEDA: www.seda2.org/dfcrb/append.htm
17 'Polyurethane Rigid Foam', I Boustead, PlasticsEurope (an industry-sponsored report)
19 'Formaldehyde Found in Building Materials', Healthy Building Network, 2008

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